Té Bheag Connoisseurs' Blended Whisky

TÉ BHEAG Nan Eilean 40% ABV Non-Chill-Filtered A Blended Scottish Whisky from the Isle of Skye Blended By Praban na Linne Let it sit in the Glass 30 minutes COLOR: Medium Reddish Brown with a number of Legs Running Slowly. Nice Ring NOSE: Brine, Licorice PALETTE: Light Creamy Mouth Feel Sweet Arrival with Licorice. Peat Smoke Rises nicely as I swirl it; Mixing with the Sweetness. Some Light Pepper. Light Sweetness remains amidst the Peat Smoke. FINISH: Light Sweetness going down; followed by Drying with Some Pepper, Briney Notes remain as I breathe along with Licorice and a Hint of Peat Smoke This is my 2nd Glass. In my opinion, this is a Very Good Blended Peated Scottish Whiskey. The Light Sweetness on the Palette mixes nicely with BUT is Not overwhelmed by the Peat Smoke. A Flavorful combination. I would prefer a Thicker Mouth Feel from this NON-CHILL FILTERED Blend, but there is a Nice combination of Licorice Sweetness with Peat Smoke. As a Gaelic Speaker, I greatly appreciate the significant use of Scottish Gaelic in the Name and the rest of the Label. The Isle of Skye along with some of the other Scottish Islands has a small but significant Gaelic Speaking population and this Blender is Keen to uphold it. Good for you all.

Occasionally in a blend, one whisky stands out against another. The superior whisky clearly won here. But I enjoyed the competition. And the other whisky didn't just give up. I winced at some of its hits. Té Bheag is a blended Scotch from the Isle of Skye with a high malt content (40%) but I'd say the grainy elements are the slow-moving contender in this case. Moving away from the grainy elements, the better aspects of the aroma were a salty sea breeze, seaweed and salt, shortbread biscuits, roasted nuts, woodland scent (resin?) and the pleasant smell of firelighters. The taste hits all the right notes but not with the right intensity. Light peat, light salt/brine, lemon peel and lightly sherried sweetness. Is that a little Talisker pepper I detect on the finish? It melts away well with malty grapefruit and a lingering oak that comes close to being too tannic. Overall, it's a fine blend. Much better in my opinion than the blended malt Monkey Shoulder. A better Grouse. A less famous one, however. But spread the word quietly - it deserves more recognition.

How are you marking Burns Night? I'm having shortbread and enjoying Té Bheag, which translates to "a small drink" in Gaelic. My initial smell of this whisky offers mild peat, black tea, and citrus. Later, I detect aged books in a quiet library with undertones of tobacco and sweetness. This is a scotch that would suggest it makes one feel robust. While taken neat, there's substantial warmth that travels from the moment the glass meets my mouth to my belly. The first taste of sweet peat rapidly changes, with a pinch of spice, to a zesty, nearly tart character. The lingering aftertaste is moderate to long and makes my lips prickle. Wood and ash reappear, reminiscent of a puff from a fine cigar. I wish the primary tastes persisted longer; it's a swift journey through deliciousness. I do appreciate this drink as a solid value blend for those who appreciate a touch of smoke and salinity. Cheers! 7.25/10

Excellent quality for the price. The aroma presents rich honey, mild smoke reminiscent of a campfire rather than vegetation, and a strong coastal brine. Also, hints of vanilla cake and nuts. A little water enhances some light fruit notes. The taste reveals more peat and smoke, significant brine, and pleasant butterscotch. Peppery with citrus notes. The finish is dry smoke and spice. Considering its price point, it's a remarkably good value whisky that performs beyond its category.

The aroma is rich with chocolate and toffee, a touch of peat and smoke, but also a faint, fleeting metallic note I can't identify. The taste offers sweet and salty elements, plus the expected peaty smoke, and it finishes with a long, warm, savory sensation. A remarkable achievement for a no-age-statement blend, especially at $40.50 in Ontario, it's a fantastic deal.

Unexpected bottle. Very woody flavor, as if Dalmore had created an affordable NAS. Beyond that, it's more woody than smoky or sweet, in my opinion. However, the taste disappears very quickly. For about $40, it's a nice weekday bottle that doesn't embarrass you when guests are over. Tasted at Mr. Drolet's place in 2021-09.